Even Midas the Cat made the paper today in an article about the release of Goodbye Mister Fifteen. More than 100 folks came out to the first day of the pre-release book signing event. We look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s event. To learn more, click here.

You are cordially invited to a pre-release book signing event introducing author Roger Engle’s greatly anticipated sequel to Stories from a Small Town. His new release, Goodbye Mister Fifteen: A Memoir, will be available to purchase the weekend before its official release date, at the following locations:

Hedgesville, West Virginia, June 20, 2015 — Girls On Press award-winning author, Roger Engle, today received both a certificate of recognition and a legislative citation from the Senate of West Virginia and House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature, respectively.

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries Director of Development, Kelly Tanksley, commenced the small ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library, where West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R – Berkeley, 61) recognized Mr. Engle for the work he has done to promote both the town of Hedgesville and the state of West Virginia through the writing of his book, Stories from a Small Town: Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia.

“Roger Engle has been a great ambassador for Hedgesville and all of West Virginia as he has promoted and distributed his book around the country and worldwide,” said Duke. “He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his community and state that is a shining example to all West Virginians of what can be accomplished with hard work, dedication, and spirit.”

In attendance at the ceremony was Mayor of Hedgesville, Mary Sue Catlett-Donaldson, along with residents of Hedgesville and Martinsburg, and members of Main Street Martinsburg. The event coincided with West Virginia Day, and the state’s 152nd birthday.

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Kelly Tanksley, Director of Development for Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries, welcomes guests and introduces the presenter at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor award-winning, West Virginia author Roger Engle. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) queues up a song at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor award-winning, West Virginia author Roger Engle. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) plays John Cougar Mellencamp’s, “Small Town,” at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor award-winning, West Virginia author Roger Engle. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) presents Roger Engle a Legislative Citation from the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) prepares to read the Certificate of Recognition presented by the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) reads the Certificate of Recognition presented by the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) reads the Certificate of Recognition presented by the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) reads the Certificate of Recognition presented by the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) reads the Certificate of Recognition presented by the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) presents a Certificate of Recognition from the Senate of West Virginia to Roger Engle at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle, award-winning author of “Stories from a Small Town: Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia,” speaks after being recognized by both the Senate of West Virginia and House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle, award-winning author of “Stories from a Small Town: Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia,” speaks after being recognized by both the Senate of West Virginia and House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle, award-winning author of “Stories from a Small Town: Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia,” speaks after being recognized by both the Senate of West Virginia and House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle, with West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) and guests at a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle greets friends following a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle greets friends following a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle greets friends following a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle greets friends following a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle with several members of Main Street Martinsburg, West Virginia, following a ceremony held at Hedgesville Public Library on June 20, 2015 to honor the award-winning, West Virginia author. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

Roger Engle, award-winning author of “Stories from a Small Town: Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia,” and West Virginia State Delegate Walter Duke (R-Berkeley, 61) following a ceremony where Mr. Engle received recognition from both the Senate of West Virginia and House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature. | Photo by Stephanie Engle

On October 11, 2013, Girls On Press attended the West Virginia Library Association (WVLA) Authors Café, a morning of presentations given by regional authors at WVLA’s annual conference in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Authors introduced themselves and their work, and were available to sell and sign books throughout the morning. Along with our very own Roger Engle, were seven other authors, including: Belinda Anderson, Richard Smith, Dorothy Hively, John Stealey III, William Trent Pancoast, Sarah Sullivan, and Clifford Garstang.

It was a pleasure to meet such a diverse group of authors, and to have the opportunity to talk personally with many of them about their creative processes, working with editors and art directors, and having their books published on their own, with independent publishers, or through larger publishing houses. I was privileged to have one such delightful discussion with author Sarah Sullivan.

Clifford Garstang spoke with me about his two titles, In an Uncharted Country, and What the Zhang Boys Know,both published by Press 53. I was excited to meet Clifford after learning that his work won a gold IPPY award, and received positive review by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Strout, who just so happens to have been a teacher of Mr. Garstang. His Zhang Boys book also tempted me because it’s a collection of linked short stories, a writing genre I was first introduced to in works such as Strout’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, Olive Kitteridge, and Colum McCann’s National Book Award Winning novel, Let the Great World Spin. Linked stories, or short story cycles, create a world viewed from more than one perspective. Working in this genre, an author is able to explore the interdependence and subjectivity of each of a book’s characters, resulting in a sort of prismatic—or kaleidoscopic—experience for the reader; in other words: good reading!

I enjoyed meeting New York pop artist Michael Albert, who presented his cereal box collages and very generously gave away poster after poster to attendees. I have to admit: any artist who has used a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop as an exhibition venue has my curiosity. I also have to say: I’ve had a “thing” for cereal boxes for as long as I can remember. Actually, I can trace my interest in graphic design and printing back to mornings of my early childhood, eating cereal at the breakfast bar in our tiny kitchen, staring at the box, and daydreaming about how the ink got on it so smoothly—not like coloring with crayons, markers, or even paint. I was fascinated, and hooked. I look forward to framing “The Preamble, 2007″ and hanging it in my office. I also look forward to introducing Albert and his hands-on workshops to new audiences in need of creative therapy.

I met so many wonderful people, including Ivonne, whose t-shirt caught my eye. How true! I remember back to my high school and college days, researching for term papers and other reports at the library—with neither computers nor internet. Perhaps my respect for “the original search engines” adds to my general lack thereof when it comes to quick searches and quick results. The work of digging deeper still appeals to me.

Also in attendance were Donna Calvert and Shawn Lemieux from the West Virginia Library Commission (WVLC) Special Services Library. They introduced authors to WVLC’s “That All May Read” initiative, part of a federal program administered by Library of Congress that loans both recorded and Braille materials to state residents who are unable to read or use standard print due to impairment—visual or physical—or reading disability. I look forward to working with Donna and Shawn as we get Stories from a Small Town ready for many more people to be able to enjoy.

WVLA President Myra Zigler gave closing comments and announced the lucky attendee who would be going home with the Authors Café door prize—a selection of the presenters’ books, and other tempting items.

The 2013 Authors Café proved to be a great opportunity for librarians to become better acquainted with authors, and for authors to meet and talk shop with their peers. It was also a great opportunity for this new independent publisher to meet lots of amazing people, all of whom are connected by a love for books. Happy reading!